Champions League: We need to be almost perfect, says Fabregas

Control is key, says Barca midfielder ahead of last-16 clash against City.

MADRID: Barcelona attacking midfielder Cesc Fabregas believes possession will be the key to prevent Manchester City from producing a historic comeback in their Champions League last-16, second-leg on Wednesday.

No team in the Champions League era has ever come back after losing the first leg 2-0 at home, but that is what City must do to reach the last-eight after Lionel Messi’s penalty and a late strike from Dani Alves gave Barca a commanding advantage at the Etihad three weeks ago.

Barcelona’s hopes of retaining their La Liga title have taken a huge blow since returning from Manchester as consecutive away defeats to Real Sociedad and Valladolid have left them four points behind Real Madrid.

And Fabregas insisted they still have plenty of work to do to ensure they reach a seventh straight Champions League quarter-final.

“We cannot let it become an open match, running up and down the whole time because that plays to their strengths,” the former Arsenal captain told Uefa.com.

“The most important thing is to finish our attacks so we don’t allow them to play on the counter-attack. I think we need to be almost perfect to ensure we go through to the quarter-finals.”

Barca boss Gerardo Martino has a fully-fit squad to choose from and is expected to make just one change from the first-leg with Neymar coming in for Chilean Alexis Sanchez up front.

City suffered a similarly disappointing weekend as they were knocked out of the FA Cup at home by Championship side Wigan, who also beat them in last year’s final.

Manuel Pellegrini will at least be able to recall Brazilian international Fernandinho and captain Vincent Kompany as they were rested on Sunday.

Kompany will be tasked with keeping a frightening Barca frontline, which includes Messi and Neymar, quiet if his side are to have any chance of progressing.

However, the Belgian defender warned against fixating on the threat posed by the South American duo.

“Of course there are always names that crop up because they are a team with exceptional, fantastic players,” he told Uefa.com

“But the reality is they are above all a team. They have many players capable of posing a threat and we must be aware that it is Barcelona we have to beat, not only Messi or Neymar.

Concentration the key for PSG, says coach Blanc

Paris Saint-Germain cannot afford to let their concentration slip as they prepare for their Champions League last 16 second leg tie at home to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday, believes their coach Laurent Blanc.

The French champions stormed to a 4-0 success in Germany, leaving the tie as good as over ahead of the Parc des Princes clash.

Added to that, PSG are on a run of five straight victories, having plundered 16 goals in that period, while Leverkusen only ended a five-match losing streak in drawing 1-1 at Hanover 96 on Saturday.

However, Blanc is not one to rest on his laurels.

“You always have to be demanding with your team,” said Blanc.

“Whoever plays, we have the desire to win. That’s important because the biggest teams, even when going through difficult periods, they need to concentrate.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 12^th, 2014.

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